The family of a man whose remains were found ten years after he went missing from Fazakerley hospital criticised police for not searching the area in which he was eventually found.

An inquest was today held into the death of James Morrell, whose scull and bones were found on land near Fazakerley railway station in February this year.

The dad-of-two, from Crosby, was 43 when he disappeared from Fazakerley hospital in July 2005.

The inquest, held at Liverpool Coroner’s Court, heard Mr Morrell was admitted to Fazakerley hospital on July 3, 2005, after his family became concerned about his mental health and that he had injured himself with a knife .

On the evening of July 5, 2005, around 8pm,the hospital notified police and Mr Morrell’s family that he was missing.

Police had received a call earlier that day, at 3.30pm, from a telephone kiosk near the hospital by a man who said he was Mr Morrell. They had also received a call by a member of the public around 5pm about a man in hospital clothes seen near the hospital.

Police forensics team by Fazakerley Station

Members of Mr Morrell’s family told the inquest they felt the hospital should have reported him as missing earlier in the day and if that had been done before 3.30pm the outcome may have been different.

Hospital records show an entry around midday about Mr Morrell, with the next at 7.30pm, saying he had left the ward several times against advice and the last time had run off when found by staff. It was not clear from the record at what time this was.

Mr McNulty, Mr Morrell’s cousin, said: “It’s strange to us that Fazakerley Hospital, which was where he was taken to as a place of safety, have no proof of life after that time (midday).”

In February this year a Network Rail worker discovered the skull near the station and called police. Merseyside Police and British Transport Police then searched the area and bones were also found, as well as a hospital band with Mr Morrell’s name on it. His identity was confirmed using dental records.

Merseyside Police Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Ephgrave told today’s hearing that following the discovery of Mr Morrell’s body he had conducted a review of the police search in 2005.

He said at the time a thorough search had been made for Mr Morrell including by helicopter. More searches were conducted using police dogs in 2007 after a case review but nothing was ever found. The area where Mr Morrell’s remains were found had not been searched as it was not identified as a likely location.

John Morrell, James Morrell’s brother, told the hearing he felt that patch of land should have been searched at the time.

He said: “My own belief is James was probably dead within 48 hours of leaving the hospital. I just don’t feel that enough was done in the initial stages.”

DCI Ephgrave replied: “I think my review has shown me where lines of enquiry existed they were followed up.”

A police log about the hospital call reporting Mr Morrell missing said he was in for alcohol detox and had a history of depression and overdose. Police logged the case as “medium risk”.

Medical records say that Mr Morrell was admitted to hospital with chest pains and had been spitting blood. He was transferred to the cardiology ward and started on an alcohol detox programme after seeing an alcohol specialist nurse. A psychiatric review was requested but deferred until the alcohol programme was completed.

Philip McNulty, Mr Morrell’s cousin, said: “The mental health crisis should have been the one which the hospital focused on.”

Janet Pye, currently a matron at Fazakerley hospital but who didn’t have any dealings with Mr Morrell in 2005, told the hearing it was normal practice at the time for no psychiatric assessment to be made until an alcohol detox had taken place. This practice has now changed.

A post mortem concluded the cause of Mr Morrell’s death was unascertained.

Anita Bhardwaj, area coroner for Liverpool and Wirral, recorded an open conclusion.

She said: “From the evidence available to me it can’t be determined if James Morrell would have had a different outcome if the psychiatric assessment had been conducted on July 3 or 4 or if the embankment where James was found was searched.”

Ms Bhardwaj concluded it was unclear where or how Mr Morrell died but said it was “more likely than not in the summer of 2005”.